Researcher-Led Basic Research "30s to 40s" Frontline Deployment

Government and Researchers Lead Basic Research Project Selection
Seven Leaders in Their 40s, One in Their 30s
Many Researchers in Their 30s and 40s Also Positioned in Basic Research Labs

▲Researchers at the center are conducting structural analysis of a new material after experiments. [Photo provided by Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, unrelated to the article]

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] Researchers in their 30s and 40s were largely selected for the researcher-led basic research projects, where researchers propose their own research topics and receive government support. This is analyzed as a measure to nurture talents who will lead the domestic science and technology sector.

The Ministry of Science and ICT announced the selection results for the Leader Research, Leading Research Center, and Basic Research Laboratory projects, which are part of the researcher-led basic research projects, on the 1st. This year’s newly selected projects include the Leader Research, which supports the highest-level basic researchers in the country, and the Leading Research Center project, which supports excellent research groups. The selection results for the Basic Research Laboratory project, which supports small-scale research groups, were also announced together this time.

Leader Research: Seven in their 40s, One in their 30s

A total of 17 researchers were selected for the Leader Research, which supports the creative research of the highest-level basic researchers in Korea. An average of 800 million KRW per person, totaling 7 billion KRW, will be provided as research funding. Among the 17, seven young researchers aged 40 or younger were selected. Professor Youngseok Joo of KAIST is the only researcher in their 30s to conduct Leader Research.

By field, in natural sciences, five researchers were selected, including Professor Anjeonggeun of Korea University, who studies stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis processes to understand how elements are formed in stars centered on stars.

In the life sciences field, four researchers studying fundamental life phenomena received support, including Professor Cheolsang Hwang of POSTECH, who researches treatments for intractable diseases through studies on degradation signals and pathways that determine protein lifespan.

In basic medical sciences, two researchers were selected, including Professor Youngseok Joo, who studies the causes of genetic diseases through analysis of human cell heterogeneity caused by somatic mutations.

In engineering, three researchers were selected, including Professor Hoseok Park of Seoul National University, who researches overcoming the technical limitations of existing secondary batteries. In the ICT convergence field, three researchers, including Professor Jungwook Park of Yonsei University, who studies core element technology development and systemic solutions for energy transition power grids, received support.

Leading Research Centers: 18 Selected

Support is provided to 18 excellent research groups through the Leading Research Centers. The Leading Research Center project supports research groups of about 10 members with 1.4 to 2 billion KRW annually for seven years.

In the science field (SRC), five centers, including the Quantum Dynamics Research Center at POSTECH, which aims to elucidate the quantum coherence phenomenon, a challenging problem in quantum dynamics, received support. In the engineering field (ERC), five centers were selected, including the R2R Printed Flexible Computer Development Research Center at Sungkyunkwan University, which can contribute to smart packaging, IoT, and biochip industries. In the basic medical sciences field (MRC), four disease and health-related research centers were selected, including the Severe Pulmonary Disease Research Center at Chungbuk National University, which studies pulmonary fibrosis recently known through new virus infections.

Since last year, the Regional Innovation Leading Research Centers (RLRC) have supported one new center per region based on innovation growth fields submitted by four regional local governments.

Basic Research Laboratories Also Frontlined by Researchers in their 30s and 40s

The Basic Research Laboratory project, which supports small-scale group research of 3 to 4 members, will support 100 laboratories. Funding of 500 million KRW per year for three years will be provided. To strengthen the nurturing of young researchers this year, the government made the participation of early-career researchers mandatory in research teams. As a result, 49% of the selected projects (49 out of 100) have principal investigators aged 40 or younger, showing a remarkable advancement of young researchers in their 30s and 40s.

In metropolitan universities, Seoul National University had the most newly selected projects with eight, followed by Hanyang University with seven. Regional universities had 27 selected projects out of 100. Kyungpook National University had five selected projects, the highest proportion among regional universities.

Goseogon, Director of Basic and Fundamental Research Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, said, "Researchers who have conducted projects through basic research programs have laid the foundation for strengthening Korea’s basic science through excellent research outcomes and talent development." He added, "We will actively support researchers so that they can steadily focus on research in a stable environment, produce outstanding results, and nurture talents who will lead the domestic and international science and technology sectors."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.